Rate increase lowered for Oklahoma worker insurance plan
The Oklahoma Supreme Court tossing out a 1 percent assessment on health insurance claims as being unconstitutional allows the board that administers the HealthChoice plans to lower by 1 percent the rate hikes it approved last month.
A rate hike by the organization that administers the insurance plan for state employees, teachers and retirees will be about 1 percent lower than approved earlier.
The Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board lowered the amount of increase during a special meeting Wednesday.
The board was able to do so because took the Oklahoma Supreme Court last week ruled a 1 percent fee on health insurance claims was unconstitutional. The high court ruled that legislation approved earlier this year created a new tax and violated provisions of the state constitution.
The board's action will result in an across-the-board reduction by 1 percent of rate increases approved last month for the state-run HealthChoice's four insurance plans, said Frank Wilson Jr., the board's administrator. For example, the most popular HealthChoice plan, the high option, will see its overall rate increase
The new rates take effect Jan. 1.
Wilson said the 1 percent assessment on health insurance claims would have amounted to about $6.2 million annually for HealthChoice.
Mom reveals simple wrinkle secret that has angered doctors...
ConsumerLifestyles.org
Prev
If you prefer your thoughts to appear in The Oklahoman, we encourage you to submit a letter to the editor.
Would you like to leave a comment?
Log in or sign up (it's free).